Dinner at Thomas Keller’s ad hoc in Yountville
Posted on Sep 13, 2009 under Archives | No Comment
Thomas Keller's ad hoc restaurant
I had been looking forward to sampling the menu at Thomas Keller’s latest Yountville eatery for months. Opened in 2006 as a temporary placeholder restaurant for Keller’s burger joint, ad hoc originated as an impromptu concept – a four course prix-fixe dinner that changes daily. The burger joint never materialized and ad hoc remains a place to sample simple homey food in a historic vintage estate building. Chef Dave Cruz’s (interview can be heard in previous post) meals feature superbly done comfort foods at a great price – $49 includes appetizer, main course, cheese dish and dessert. My friend Joan joined me for dinner, below is what we tasted during dinner.
ad hoc interior
You can go to ad hoc’s website to find out what is on the menu for that night’s dinner. We had a fabulous menu, here it is:
Board menu
Our dinner started with a lovely gift from Chef Cruz – a nice watermelon appetizer with a balsamic reduction. A perfect way to start a dinner on a hot evening.
Watermelon appetizer
We also got a lovely softshell crab appetizer, not on the menu, made especially for us by the chef. This was so delicious and a great treat.
Softshell crab appetizer, yummy.
Our appetizer off of the set menu was a lovely Jacobsen Orchard fig salad, with goat cheese, baby red oak lettuce, house cured pancetta, roasted pecans, in a maple vinaigrette. The fresh goat cheese accented the figs perfectly, with a nice spicy bite from the pancetta and a bit of sweetness from the pecans.
Fig salad
the fig salad was so good it deserved a close up
Next came the main course, a hickory smoked prime beef ribeye with marinated garden heirloom tomatoes from the French Laundry (down the road) garden and sweet onionsin a red wine cream. The beef was cooked perfectly. This was served with a side german butterball potato salad with fresh green beans.
Steak and tomatoes
This menu still makes my mouth water, here was my plate
Side was a lovely light summer potato salad with fresh beans
Throughout the meal we also sampled many many glasses of superb wines, some are only available at ad hoc and French Laundry. Next course was the cheese plate, all delicious and served with a vanilla pear compote and toasted brioche.
Cheese course
Joan and I loved this entire menu. For dessert we had a fresh carrot cake with cream cheese frosting.
carrot cake
Joan and me, ad hoc restaurant, yountville
It’s worth a drive from SF (about an hour) just to taste the great menu at ad hoc. You never know what will be featured, but it is a sure bet it will be delicious and very reasonable – $49 for the entire set menu. Reservations are a must, 6476 Washington Street, Yountville, 707/944-2487.